Kyocera Mita Corporation

Kyocera Document Solutions Inc.

Fujio Tabata

Akizou Ohtani

A remaining amount detector measures beforehand a distance H where there is one sheet. A motor displaces a lifting plate to a paper-feeding position upon storing paper in the feeding unit. The remaining amount detector measures a distance y1 to the lower face of a paper stack. Thereafter, upon transport of paper from the stack, a control unit causes the remaining amount detector to measure a distance y2 for every predetermined number n of fed sheets. A remaining sheet calculation unit calculates a displacement y1&#x2212;y2=&#x394;y to the bottom of the paper stack S, and calculates the thickness of one sheet on the basis of the displacement &#x394;y and the number n of fed sheets (t=&#x394;y/n). The remaining sheet calculation unit divides the thickness (H&#x2212;y2) of the paper stack by the thickness t of one paper sheet, and calculates the number of remaining sheets m as (m=((H&#x2212;y2)/t)+1).

Paper feeding device and image forming apparatus

A remaining amount detector measures beforehand a distance H where there is one sheet. A motor displaces a lifting plate to a paper-feeding position upon storing paper in the feeding unit. The remaining amount detector measures a distance yto the lower face of a paper stack. Thereafter, upon transport of paper from the stack, a control unit causes the remaining amount detector to measure a distance yfor every predetermined number n of fed sheets. A remaining sheet calculation unit calculates a displacement y&#x2212;y=&#x394;y to the bottom of the paper stack S, and calculates the thickness of one sheet on the basis of the displacement &#x394;y and the number n of fed sheets (t=&#x394;y/n). The remaining sheet calculation unit divides the thickness (H&#x2212;y) of the paper stack by the thickness t of one paper sheet, and calculates the number of remaining sheets m as (m=((H&#x2212;y)/t)+1).

An image forming apparatus capable of forming an image without transfer deviation or rumples by detecting the loop amount of the sheet material with a plurality of thresholds at multiple stages through a loop amount detecting portion detecting the loop amount of a sheet passing between conveyance guide members. The loop amount finely detected at the multiple stages through the loop amount detecting portion is reflected in a control and drive system, and, as a result, the sheet material can be conveyed while keeping the loop of the sheet material passing between the conveyance guide members at an appropriate amount.

Image forming apparatus preventing sheet transfer deviation or slippage through fine detection of loop amount

A sheet transport switching device include a rotary guide that is pivotal about an axis orthogonal to a sheet transport direction to align a guide passage with one of two discharge destinations. A stepping motor changes the posture of the rotary guide and a controller controls the stepping motor. A lead end in-timing acquirer acquires a timing when a lead end of the sheet enters the guide passage. The controller performs, in a state that the exit of the guide passage aligns with one of the two discharge destinations, an in-timing retaining operation of retaining a rotated position of the stepping motor by supplying an energizing current of a first current value to the stepping motor at the acquired lead end in-timing, and a pass timing retaining operation of reducing the energizing current to a second value when the lead end of the sheet passes the guide passage.

Sheet transport direction switching device, and image forming apparatus incorporated with the same

An electronic device which has a plurality of hardware which function as a predetermined model in accordance with model dependent data is disclosed which prevents easy modification of the model dependent data. An image forming device includes a plurality of control circuit boards, a plurality of memory units, and a main circuit board. The plurality of control circuit boards each control the operation of designated hardware. The plurality of memory units are readable and writable, and are each arranged in a plurality of locations which include the plurality of control circuit boards. The main circuit board writes the model dependent data to at least one of the plurality of memory units, reads the model dependent data upon startup, and identifies the model.

Growing community of inventors

Osaka, Japan

Fujio Tabata